Thesis: Disapprove “The world and everything in it is unplanned accident, existence is meaningless; the past is irrelevant; nothing matters.”
Argument/ Example: Beowulf dies as a hero. To be a hero, one has to give up one’s life to save other people because the one cares about people and thinks that world is important. In addition, at his funeral, a lot of people come in and celebrate his death. Everybody cries reminiscing his great victories and how he saved them from the outsides, including the dragon. This celebration shows that they believe that his past is very important and his existence is significant. Beowulf:“They were disconsolate and wailed aloud for their lord’s decease. A Geat woman too sang our in grief;” (211)
Argument/Example: Wealtheow gives herself up for the greater people. Although she knows that after she gives herself to the old Harthogar, she will forever be with him. However, she can do this because she cares about her family and her people. Her action clearly shows that the world is significant. After observing her choice, we can determine that she believes that her existence is important to her people since her life can save countless of people.
“O woe! O wretched violation of sense! I could see myself leaping from my high tree and running on all fours through the crowd to her, howling, whimpering throwing myself down…” (101, Grendel)
Argument/Evidence: Disapprove: “The world and everything in it is unplanned accident”: Sacrificing myself to Hrothgar was planned. “He was still smiling though his eyes had no life in them. He had something in reserve, some ingenious product of his counselor’s wits that would overwhelm their scheme.” P.99 Grendel “Existence is meaningless”: my existence is meaningful because as I give myself to Hrthrogar, many people will be able to live. If it weren’t for me, then our people will be tortured and suffered by Hrthrogar. “the past is irrelevant”: Past is relevant p.106 The Helming guests all talked at once, eagerly, constantly, as if squeezing all their past into an evening.” When I saw my family and friends again, we were very happy. We shared our past when we saw each other. In other words, if we hadn’t valued our past, and thought that past is doesn’t matter, we wouldn’t have been happy when we saw each other. “Nothing matters”: Everything and everyone matters. I sacrifice myself because I thought that my people were worthy to be saved. Also, I calm Unferth because I care for people not to engage in fight. p.104 Also, I address people by saying “my lords” to thanes although they are officially not my lords. P.103
Written statement
in Wealtheow's pov
I, Wealtheow, believe the world is planned. In addition, existence has meaning because we can always bring change to the world. Furthermore, the past is as important as the present because it affects the fundamental basin of the future.
All the events that occur are not accidental, but there is a reason. For example, I heard that Unferth went to Grendel’s cave and fell asleep even before the fight occurred. However, despite the fact that Grendel could kill Unferth easily, he doesn’t kill him, but laughs at him every time he sees Unferth trying to be a hero. “He throws himself at me, or he cunningly sneaks up behind, sometimes in disguise-a goat, a dog, a sickly old women-and I roll on the floor with laughter”(90 Grendel). Thus, Grendel chooses not to kill Unferth as if it is planned.
Moreover, I believe that our existence is valuable because we are living in an interconnected society. For example, at his funeral, many of the Geats mourned for him because they thought that his existence was worthy of grief and praise. “They were disconsolate and wailed aloud for their lord’s decease. A Geat woman too sang our in grief” (211 Beowulf). Also, I sacrificed my life by giving myself in marriage to old Hrothgar. I knew that it was the only way to save countless people. “She looked up at Hrothgar’s beard, not his eyes, afraid of him. “My lord,” she said” (101 Grendel). Therefore, had I not done this, Hrothgar would have annihilated us all.
Furthermore, the past is important to us because it is what shapes us to become what we are now. For example, Beowulf comes all the way to the lands of the Danes to save them from the monstrous Grendel because he was “to follow up an old friendship” (27 Beowulf) with Hrothgar. If he hadn’t valued his past familial friendship, then Beowulf wouldn’t have rescued us, risking his life; and we wouldn’t be enjoying our lives in Danes. Beowulf’s funeral is another example that clarifies that the past matters to our lives. The Geatish people cry, lamenting the death of Beowulf, reminiscing about his great victories and how he saved them from the outside evils. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.” (213, Beowulf) The Shaper, too, reflects of the glorious days of the Danes, celebrating past victories with others. “He told how Scyld by the cunning of arms had rebuilt the old Danish kingdom form ashes…” (Grendel, 42)
She cares for everybody not to fight.
Her existence is important is relieving the tension in the fight. " That's past." And it was. The demon was exorcised. I saw his hands unclench, relax and-torn between tears and a bellow of scorn- I crept back to my cave". (p.104 Grendel)
Also, she calls even the thanes "my lords" because she respects other people. (p.103, Grendel)
I was planned to give myself to Hrthrogar. It is not unplanned accident.
Letter reflection
Through reading the letter from John Gardner, I was able to see the writer’s point of view on the book, Grendel. I have frequently heard that each reader has their own interpretation when reading a book. I thought that doing a trial for Grendel was also an interpretation. Since, this would be my first time acting as if I were a witness for Grendel’s act, I wasn’t sure that if it was all right to assert statements on behalf of fictional character. However, my question was answered after reading this letter; “He (a writer) sets up the alterative possibilities, he explores every avenue of the question, and he leaves the reader free”. I believe that this will help me to express my statement assertively in the trial, because now I’m sure that I can make my own interpretation of Grendel and speak on behalf of Wealtheow.
Argument/ Example: Beowulf dies as a hero. To be a hero, one has to give up one’s life to save other people because the one cares about people and thinks that world is important. In addition, at his funeral, a lot of people come in and celebrate his death. Everybody cries reminiscing his great victories and how he saved them from the outsides, including the dragon. This celebration shows that they believe that his past is very important and his existence is significant. Beowulf:“They were disconsolate and wailed aloud for their lord’s decease. A Geat woman too sang our in grief;” (211)
Argument/Example: Wealtheow gives herself up for the greater people. Although she knows that after she gives herself to the old Harthogar, she will forever be with him. However, she can do this because she cares about her family and her people. Her action clearly shows that the world is significant. After observing her choice, we can determine that she believes that her existence is important to her people since her life can save countless of people.
“O woe! O wretched violation of sense! I could see myself leaping from my high tree and running on all fours through the crowd to her, howling, whimpering throwing myself down…” (101, Grendel)
Argument/Evidence:
Disapprove:
“The world and everything in it is unplanned accident”: Sacrificing myself to Hrothgar was planned. “He was still smiling though his eyes had no life in them. He had something in reserve, some ingenious product of his counselor’s wits that would overwhelm their scheme.” P.99 Grendel
“Existence is meaningless”: my existence is meaningful because as I give myself to Hrthrogar, many people will be able to live. If it weren’t for me, then our people will be tortured and suffered by Hrthrogar.
“the past is irrelevant”: Past is relevant p.106
The Helming guests all talked at once, eagerly, constantly, as if squeezing all their past into an evening.”
When I saw my family and friends again, we were very happy. We shared our past when we saw each other. In other words, if we hadn’t valued our past, and thought that past is doesn’t matter, we wouldn’t have been happy when we saw each other.
“Nothing matters”: Everything and everyone matters. I sacrifice myself because I thought that my people were worthy to be saved. Also, I calm Unferth because I care for people not to engage in fight. p.104
Also, I address people by saying “my lords” to thanes although they are officially not my lords. P.103
Written statement
in Wealtheow's pov
I, Wealtheow, believe the world is planned. In addition, existence has meaning because we can always bring change to the world. Furthermore, the past is as important as the present because it affects the fundamental basin of the future.
All the events that occur are not accidental, but there is a reason. For example, I heard that Unferth went to Grendel’s cave and fell asleep even before the fight occurred. However, despite the fact that Grendel could kill Unferth easily, he doesn’t kill him, but laughs at him every time he sees Unferth trying to be a hero. “He throws himself at me, or he cunningly sneaks up behind, sometimes in disguise-a goat, a dog, a sickly old women-and I roll on the floor with laughter”(90 Grendel). Thus, Grendel chooses not to kill Unferth as if it is planned.
Moreover, I believe that our existence is valuable because we are living in an interconnected society. For example, at his funeral, many of the Geats mourned for him because they thought that his existence was worthy of grief and praise. “They were disconsolate and wailed aloud for their lord’s decease. A Geat woman too sang our in grief” (211 Beowulf). Also, I sacrificed my life by giving myself in marriage to old Hrothgar. I knew that it was the only way to save countless people. “She looked up at Hrothgar’s beard, not his eyes, afraid of him. “My lord,” she said” (101 Grendel). Therefore, had I not done this, Hrothgar would have annihilated us all.
Furthermore, the past is important to us because it is what shapes us to become what we are now. For example, Beowulf comes all the way to the lands of the Danes to save them from the monstrous Grendel because he was “to follow up an old friendship” (27 Beowulf) with Hrothgar. If he hadn’t valued his past familial friendship, then Beowulf wouldn’t have rescued us, risking his life; and we wouldn’t be enjoying our lives in Danes. Beowulf’s funeral is another example that clarifies that the past matters to our lives. The Geatish people cry, lamenting the death of Beowulf, reminiscing about his great victories and how he saved them from the outside evils. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.” (213, Beowulf) The Shaper, too, reflects of the glorious days of the Danes, celebrating past victories with others. “He told how Scyld by the cunning of arms had rebuilt the old Danish kingdom form ashes…” (Grendel, 42)
She cares for everybody not to fight.
Her existence is important is relieving the tension in the fight. " That's past." And it was. The demon was exorcised. I saw his hands unclench, relax and-torn between tears and a bellow of scorn- I crept back to my cave". (p.104 Grendel)
Also, she calls even the thanes "my lords" because she respects other people. (p.103, Grendel)
I was planned to give myself to Hrthrogar. It is not unplanned accident.
Letter reflection
Through reading the letter from John Gardner, I was able to see the writer’s point of view on the book, Grendel. I have frequently heard that each reader has their own interpretation when reading a book. I thought that doing a trial for Grendel was also an interpretation. Since, this would be my first time acting as if I were a witness for Grendel’s act, I wasn’t sure that if it was all right to assert statements on behalf of fictional character. However, my question was answered after reading this letter; “He (a writer) sets up the alterative possibilities, he explores every avenue of the question, and he leaves the reader free”. I believe that this will help me to express my statement assertively in the trial, because now I’m sure that I can make my own interpretation of Grendel and speak on behalf of Wealtheow.